Free Winning Dawn by Thayer King

to change anything.” She dropped her purse onto the couch and glared at him. “Oh, get the fuck up already! The answer is hell no!”
    “You don’t mean that.”
    “How many times do I have to say it? No! I don’t want to be with you anymore. It’s over.”
    He stood slowly. “This is about Tanika and about today. Look, I thought it would be romantic. The shit girls gossip about to their friends.” He brushed off the knees of his pants. “As for Tanika, it was nothing serious. I’m sorry about it. Please forgive me?”
    “I forgive you,” she said automatically, “but I won’t take you back this time.”
    He looked around before returning his green gaze to her. “You’re with someone else,” he said flatly. “Who is it?”
    She didn’t deny it. “It doesn’t matter.”
    “Did you cheat on me?”
    “He kissed me once before we broke up, but that’s all.”
    “Is he the reason you dumped me?”
    “No.”
    His shoulders slumped. He placed the roses on the coffee table. “I’ve never pictured myself growing old with anyone but you, Dawn.” Tears filled his eyes and he wiped them away with his sleeve. “You were my go-to girl for everything. My rock. I know I should have treated you better.”
    “Damn right,” she said. She glanced at her watch and was alarmed at how late it was. “I’ve got to get ready.”
    “Date?”
    “Yes. See yourself out?” She didn’t wait for his reply. Instead, she hurried upstairs, stripped, and showered. It didn’t take her long to find the clothes she wanted to wear and lay them on the bed. She did her makeup and hair. Within forty minutes, she stood before the mirror to examine herself. She’d decided to put her hair up. Tendrils of loose curls lay on her neck and at her ears. She’d arranged her bangs to fall in an asymmetrical point. Her dress, a deep wine, had spaghetti straps. Its draped bodice showed off her breasts to their full advantage. She smoothed her hands over her hips. It took a moment to find a purse and shoes to match, but she was satisfied with the overall look when she was done.
    She decided to go downstairs to wait for Evan. She stopped on the second step when she saw Reggie sitting in front of the TV. “What are you doing? Why are you still here?”
    “Thought I’d meet this guy. Make sure he was good enough for you.”
    She took the steps as fast as her pumps would let her. “No. Get out.”
    “I won’t cause any trouble. I just want to let the guy know what a gem he’s getting.”
    “That’s not your place. I don’t appreciate it and neither will he.”
    He stood, towering over her. “You look fantastic. I can’t recall the last time we dressed up and went out.” He glanced down at his tux. “It’s never too late.”
    “Sometimes it is,” she said dryly. “Especially when one of us is going out with someone else.” She shoved him toward the door. “Leave.”
    He turned the knob, but simply stood in the doorway. “I’ll always love you, Dawn, my baby.”
    She didn’t think loving her would hurt him overly since loving her had never deterred him from being with other women. He took her hand and kissed it and then held it to his cheek. She tugged to get him to release her, but he wouldn’t.
    “Don’t hate me.”
    She didn’t want to waste anymore emotions on him. “I don’t hate you. In a way, in some miniscule corner of my heart, I will always love you.” His broad grin reminded her of happier times and then he was gone. She shook her head with a laugh. She wondered if Reggie knew the meaning of “miniscule.”

Chapter 8
     
    “I will always love you.”
    Those were the only words Evan heard and it was more than enough. Upon seeing the parking tied up in front of Dawn’s townhouse, he’d driven past and parked in front of one of her neighbor’s homes. He was a few minutes early for their date. Anticipating seeing her had had him on a high all day. He’d managed to finish the instruction manual he’d